The Tour (Platform) Guide: Comparing TripAdvisor, Airbnb, GetYourGuide, & More

Ah, the great debate: which platform should you book your next tour with?

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As travelers, we have more options than ever before, which has only muddied the waters, in my opinion. On top of that, it’s tough to gauge which tours are actually high-quality and which ones are ethical, too.

That last note is particularly important. I live in El Born, part of Barcelona’s Ciutat Vella. The Old City is a must-see for tourists and is frequented by tours of all stripes, from haunted histories to wine tastings to historical explorations.

But when tour guides drag groups of more than ten through the city’s tiny neighborhoods, it makes the area unlivable. It also creates a more stressful experience for tourists. A lose-lose, in other words.

While going on tours is a top-notch way to get to know a city, from its culture to its history to its language, you need to be choosy about…